Leviev leases space in Times Square

AFI USA, a unit of Israeli billionaire Lev Leviev’s-controlled Africa-Israel Investments last week leased 28,000 square feet in the old New York Times Building to US nationwide fashion chain Daffy’s.

The company did not disclose the terms of the lease, which boosts the occupancy rate of the building’s retail space to 70 percent.

Africa-Israel bought the old New York Times Building, at West 44th Street by Times Square, in April 2007 just before the US real estate bubble burst.

AFI USA CFO and acting CEO Tamir Kazaz told Israel’s financial daily Globes that there has been heavy demand lately for extensive high-end retail space for the Times Square Building.

Stores in the building directly face 44th Street, where there is heavy pedestrian traffic. This has boosted the pace of leases and the building has become a top site for retailers seeking broad exposure to customers from all over the world.